Mission Statement

The mission of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation is to enhance the public perception of the Iowa Cattle Industry and to assist in providing educational and economic opportunities for Iowans in the cattle business.

ICF Scholarship winners selected

 From left, Mathias Peters, Lane Wicks, and Ethan Jones, winners of 2013 ICF scholarships.

Three Iowa high school seniors received scholarships from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation on April 6. Winners are Mathias Peters, Bellevue; Lane Wicks, Rockford; and Ethan Jones, St. Charles. They each receive $1000 from the Youth Beef Team (YBT) program for their knowledge of beef and cattle production, as well as their communication skills. 

Peters and Wicks also receive an additional $500 each because they completed an online course called Masters of Beef Advocacy, a program that provides additional training on communications and beef production.

Each scholarship candidate provided a written application, and took part in a personal interview and made a presentation on a beef industry issue during the final judging process in Ames on April 6. Scholarship judge Sparky Wellman of Bonaparte said, “We had a remarkable group of applicants this year. They represented the diversity we see every day in our industry. They all brought attention to a different, relevant aspect of our business.”

Lively auction provides successful ICF fundraiser

Adirondack chairs made with planed wood from storm-damaged poles, a table supported by a two pair of Longhorns, and a plate of cookies were a few of the items auctioned at the IowaDavid Whitaker, auctioneer Cattlemen’s Foundation (ICF) Live and Silent Auctions held at the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Convention in December. The auctions raised $27,065 for educational and youth programs that are sponsored by ICF.

“Every year, we have industry partners and loyal producers from across the state that step up and help support the ICF,” remarked ICF President Kevin Carstensen at the auction. “We are truly grateful that we can continue to build on these partnerships and continue to grow our programs year after year.”

Auctioneer David Whitaker of Ames called the auction. Dollars raised from the auctions support events like the Scholarship Extravaganza (below), the Youth Beef Team, and the Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program.

Northeast Iowans top Extravaganza competition

A pair of high school seniors from Northeast Iowa took home the top prize at the Beef Scholarship Extravaganza hosted by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation on Dec. 14, 2012. N2012 Extravaganza Winnersatalie Hanson, La Porte City, and Dustin Smith, Decorah, will each receive a $1500 scholarship for topping the 24 teams that competed at the event that was held at Iowa State University in Ames.

The scholarship event, which is for students interested in cattle and beef production, involved 63 high school students from around Iowa. They competed for cash scholarship awards for the top four teams that totaled $7,650. Students were challenged at 10 different stations to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

The second place team was from Denison. The FFA team of Josi McMinemee, Denison, and Taylor Clinton, Schleswig, each earned $1,125 in scholarships. Third place went to the St. Ansgar FFA team of Ben Weis, Matt Levan, and Olivia Bisbee, all of St. Ansgar. They each received $500 scholarships. The fourth place team was Tyler Sellner, Earlville, and Jenna Beitz, Hopkinton. They represented Maquoketa Valley FFA, and each won a $450 scholarship.

Click here to read about which team won each station.

Scholarship sponsors of the event were: Land O’ Lakes – first place team; Farm Credit Services of America – second place team; Iowa Beef Breeds Council – third place team; and All Flex – fourth place team.

                                                                                                                                                     

“The cattle industry is one I have always believed in. I believe that if something takes care of you and your family, you have a responsibility to give back and promote that livelihood.”

- Glenn Rowe, Beef Producer, Lorimor

Soil, water, sunlight and grass. . . the basics of Iowa’s beef industry. Our young people, our families and our farm-related organizations are the heart of Iowa’s rural strength.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation was created to build on these strengths by giving beef industry advocates an opportunity to meet, grow and remain involved and connected to the industry.

Founded in 1994, the 17-member board of directors set forth a mission to increase public understanding of the Iowa beef industry and assist in providing educational and job opportunities for Iowa’s young people in the beef cattle business. The group established several goals:

  • Increase youth educational programs.
  • Provide scholarship opportunities.
  • Expand beef industry internship programs.
  • Enhance the beef resource and historical library.
  • Increase educational offerings for producers, students and public groups.

 

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation is a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, defined as exempt by the IRS for payment of federal income taxes as a group organized for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes.